"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
You don't understand and you don't try to see
That white is too dull we need the reds and the greens
You're big time now on New York T.V.
A prime time fool for everyone to see
Can't see a heaven if the sky isn't clear
You can't change a mind if it doesn't want to hear
Will we ever get out of here stop and think awhile
Another time and another place where everyone smiles
You have the rights or you seem to think
Stopped dead in their tracks other peoples dreams
All those ideas questioned by doubt
I'm telling you man you better get out
Can't stop the dance if the song isn't done
You can't stop the change the numbers, 100 to 1
Will we ever get out of here stop and think awhile
Another time and another place where everyone smiles
You don't understand you don't try to see
You're in the cage and we've got the key
Can't see the future till it's in front of you
But you can't escape it the future brings a change
Will we ever get out of here
Stop and think awhile
Another time and another place Where everyone smiles
That white is too dull we need the reds and the greens
You're big time now on New York T.V.
A prime time fool for everyone to see
Can't see a heaven if the sky isn't clear
You can't change a mind if it doesn't want to hear
Will we ever get out of here stop and think awhile
Another time and another place where everyone smiles
You have the rights or you seem to think
Stopped dead in their tracks other peoples dreams
All those ideas questioned by doubt
I'm telling you man you better get out
Can't stop the dance if the song isn't done
You can't stop the change the numbers, 100 to 1
Will we ever get out of here stop and think awhile
Another time and another place where everyone smiles
You don't understand you don't try to see
You're in the cage and we've got the key
Can't see the future till it's in front of you
But you can't escape it the future brings a change
Will we ever get out of here
Stop and think awhile
Another time and another place Where everyone smiles
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
i thought of this song while i was in rehab, i thought it totally made sense
this is the first olp song and probably one of the best, it should have been included on Naveed.
Ooh,this song is awesome.Too bad I didn't hear it so soon.Hey,I'm born in 1991 so...theres an excuse for ya! XD
This is actually one of my favorite OLP songs. I really wish it was on naveed.
Great song. One of their best. The lyrics above are ok, one big mistake is it should be "the future brings the truth".
There is only a 60 second clip of this song on the net, but yesterday I was on Youtube and they have the full video of it. Its so good. I wish it was put on Naveed too.
youtube.com/nikki4982
Yea, i saw that video on YouTube, it's an awesome song. Does n e one know where I could dowload that for my ipod?